Immigrant pastor: 'We are waiting' to reunite with family, fix broken system

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The Rev. Jorge Rodriguez and his family emigrated from Honduras to the U.S. legally in 2006, but that didn't stop the government from splitting them up as his children grew older.

Rodriguez, of La Nueva Esperanza UMC, said the broken immigration system, which is under review in a proposed overhaul by the U.S. Senate, will prevent reuniting with two of his three children for nearly a decade.

“Now we are waiting," he said, while talking part in a Wednesday, May 1, rally for immigration reform that could benefit up to 11 million undocumented people living in the U.S. in addition to smoothing the application process for others.

Rodriguez was one of about 100 who walked from the intersection of Division Avenue and Fulton Street to Calder Plaza protesting for an improved system. As they marched toward their destination, the animated crowd chanted ‘Yes we can’ or ‘No somos uno, no somos cien, somos millones, cuentanos bien’ (We are not one, we are not a hundred, we are millions, count us correctly).

The group marched as a way to commemorate the labor of immigrant workers. In 80 countries, including those in Central and South America, Labor Day is celebrated on May 1.

Rodriguez explained that he entered the country legally with his wife and three children
with a religious visa that only provided him with a work permit. His wife and three kids were dependents and weren’t legally allowed to work.

"Once two of my kids turned 21, they had to go back to Honduras," he said. "We tried to keep our two kids as students as we did with the first one, but it’s very expensive paperwork, so they had to go back,”

The children were born in Honduras, but they now live in Costa Rica, because Rodriguez believed their home country to be too unsafe. He and his wife recently earned permanent residency in the U.S. but have to wait seven to eight years before they can petition for their children to return.

Larry Bialk, 69, and his wife, Judy, 68, also took part in the march. The Ada Congregational Church members decided to attend because the immigration system needs to change.

“I don’t think people should come here illegally, but the system needs to change. How can we be tearing families apart?” he said.

His wife said more rallies should take place so people are more aware of what is going on.

“It breaks my heart. That is why I am here,” she said.

On Friday, the group will present a documentary titled “The Dream is Now” at City Life Church, 574 S. Division Ave. The event starts at 7 p.m. and people will have the opportunity to hear about the recently introduced immigration bill.